A plane which crashed resulting in two fatalities in Co Antrim had been flying at a low level to facilitate aerial photographs, an investigation has found.

Retired commercial pilot Bob Farmbrough, a father-of-four from Carrickfergus, was piloting the two-seater light aircraft which crashed on April 19 last year.

His passenger was Bryan Greenwood from Larne, a father-of-two who ran his own aerial photography business.

Both men died when the Cessna 152, which had been rented from the Ulster Flying Club in Newtownards, came down and caught fire in a wooded area near Ballyhill Lane outside Crumlin.

The report into the accident published this month by the Air Accidents Investigation Branch (AAIB) said: “During a manoeuvre at low level the aircraft stalled and descended rapidly, passing through some trees, before striking the ground.

“There was a post-crash fire and neither occupant survived.”

It stated: “The aircraft was flying at low level and low airspeed when, for an undetermined reason, there was a critical reduction in airspeed and a loss of control.

“There is an increased level of risk associated with flying close to the stalling speed without sufficient height to recover from a stall, particularly when focussed on a task such as taking aerial photographs.”

According to the report witnesses on the ground in the area of the accident saw the aircraft circling.

Several reported seeing it flying apparently normally before suddenly “nose-diving” towards the ground.

Two witnesses close to the accident site also reported hearing the engine “spluttering” as the aircraft passed overhead at a low height.

After the aircraft struck the ground these witnesses heard a “popping” noise and then a larger explosion.

There was an intense fire in the cockpit area and bystanders who arrived on the scene were not able to assist the occupants of the aircraft.